Despite rain, suicide awareness walk a success

LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) – Despite the rain, about 250 people showed up for the Out of the Darkness Walk, an event to bring awareness to suicide.

Suicide takes the lives of 30,000 Americans every year and it's one of the leading causes of death for teenagers and young adults.

Held at the Civic Center, participants registered and walked three miles on Lake Shore Drive. When they returned, walkers gathered to hear the names read of the victims of suicide in Southwest Louisiana.

Similar events have been held in other parts of Louisiana, including Lafayette. However, this was SWLA's first suicide awareness walk.

Ernest Fruge, with the Suicide Prevention and Intervention Coalition for the Youth, says Southwest Louisiana follows the national trend with respect to the number of suicides each year. Fruge says an ugly trend in SWLA is the number of suicide symptoms, such as depression, is up. Fruge attributes much of this to last year's hurricanes, when many families were uprooted from their homes and forced to start all over again.

The event ended with yellow balloons, each representing a victim of suicide, being released into the sky.

To find out more about suicide prevention, visit the Spicy Coalition website.

Crews are working to repair a water main in Sulphur. (Source: City of Sulphur)

The City of Sulphur is advising Maplewood residents that they may experience low water pressure or water outages due to a broken water main on the corner of Maplewood Drive and Center Circle Avenue. Crews are currently working to repair the broken main. The affected area extends from Cities Service Highway to Prater Road and from US 90 to I-10. Copyright 2018 KPLC. All rights reserved.

The City of Sulphur is advising Maplewood residents that they may experience low water pressure or water outages due to a broken water main on the corner of Maplewood Drive and Center Circle Avenue. Crews are currently working to repair the broken main. The affected area extends from Cities Service Highway to Prater Road and from US 90 to I-10. Copyright 2018 KPLC. All rights reserved.

A large police presence was on Third Street, near La. 14, Thursday morning after receiving a call of a possible kidnapping, said Lt. Richard Harrell, with the Lake Charles Police Department. The person who was the target of the alleged kidnapping is an adult an is in police care, Harrell said. Harrell said Lake Charles police and members of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office searched for the suspect, but were unable to locate the person. Copyright 2018 KPLC. All rights reserved.

A large police presence was on Third Street, near La. 14, Thursday morning after receiving a call of a possible kidnapping, said Lt. Richard Harrell, with the Lake Charles Police Department. The person who was the target of the alleged kidnapping is an adult an is in police care, Harrell said. Harrell said Lake Charles police and members of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office searched for the suspect, but were unable to locate the person. Copyright 2018 KPLC. All rights reserved.

Leesville resident Ashley Johnson Stanley caught an incredible video of a rainbow in her backyard. Stanley says she filmed it during a rainstorm on Tuesday. Copyright 2018 KPLC. All rights reserved.More >>

Leesville resident Ashley Johnson Stanley caught an incredible video of a rainbow in her backyard. Stanley says she filmed it during a rainstorm on Tuesday. Copyright 2018 KPLC. All rights reserved.More >>

At least 1,124 residents are without power from Pujol Road all the way to Moeling Street near La. 171 according to the Entergy Map. According to Entergy, a serviceman is working to determine the cause of the outage. Power will be restored as soon as possible. Entergy estimates power will be restored by 2:30 p.m. Traffic lights may be affected. Copyright 2018 KPLC. All rights reserved.

At least 1,124 residents are without power from Pujol Road all the way to Moeling Street near La. 171 according to the Entergy Map. According to Entergy, a serviceman is working to determine the cause of the outage. Power will be restored as soon as possible. Entergy estimates power will be restored by 2:30 p.m. Traffic lights may be affected. Copyright 2018 KPLC. All rights reserved.

This Saturday, the Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force is hosting a free child passenger safety seat check event in Lake Charles, according to Sgt. James Anderson of Louisiana State Police. Anyone who transports a young child in a vehicle is encouraged to take advantage of this service. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of deaths in children, many of which can be prevented with proper seat checks, says Anderson. Anderson says nationally certified child passen...

This Saturday, the Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force is hosting a free child passenger safety seat check event in Lake Charles, according to Sgt. James Anderson of Louisiana State Police. Anyone who transports a young child in a vehicle is encouraged to take advantage of this service. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of deaths in children, many of which can be prevented with proper seat checks, says Anderson. Anderson says nationally certified child passen...